A Famine for the Word

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A Famine for the Word

• Amos 811-14

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Amos

• A farmer and shepherd
• Called by God to be a prophet
• Around 750 BC sent to Israel
• Repent
• Or face Gods judgment
• The nation did not listen
• Captured by Assyria in 722 BC

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A Famine for the Word

• Part of the punishment for failing to repent
  (Amos 811-14)
• Not a physical famine
• Rather a spiritual famine
• Today there is also a famine
• Different in some ways, but similar
• Producing similar results

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The Differences

• Present famine not sent by God
• Instead, God has sent a feast
• More Bibles available than ever
• More areas of the world open to receiving the
  Word of God
• Our famine is SELF-IMPOSED

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A Bibles Diary

• January
• A busy time for me. Most of the family decided
  to read me through this year. They kept me busy
  for the first two weeks. I'm now forgotten.

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A Bibles Diary

• February
• My owner used me for a few minutes last week.
  He had an argument and was checking references.

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A Bibles Diary

• March
• Grandpa visited us. He kept me on his lap for an
  hour, reading 1 Cor. 13

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A Bibles Diary

• April
• I had a busy day. My owner was appointed a
  leader of something and used me. I got to go to
  church the first time this year...Easter Sunday

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A Bibles Diary

• May
• I have a few grass stains on my pages. Had some
  early spring flowers pressed in me.

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A Bibles Diary

• June
• I look like a scrap book. They have stuffed me
  full of clippings. One of the girls got married.

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A Bibles Diary

• July
• They put me in a suitcase today. I guess we're
  off on a vacation. I wish I could stay at home,
  as I will have to stay in this thing for a month.

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A Bibles Diary

• August
• Still in the
• suitcase.

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A Bibles Diary

• September
• Back home again, and in my old place. I have
  lots of company. Two "True Stories and four
  "Funny Books" are on top of me. I wish I could be
  read as much as they are.

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A Bibles Diary

• October
• They used me a little today. One of them is
  sick. Right now I'm all shined up and in the
  center of the table...I think the preacher is
  coming.

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A Bibles Diary

• November
• Back in my
• old place.

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A Bibles Diary

• December
• They are getting ready for Christmas. I'll be
  covered under wrapping papers and packages.

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Similar causes

• Material Luxury
• Amos 61-8
• Not wanting to think about the future
• Pride in their national power
• Pride in their accomplishments
• Pride in their possessions
• What about today?

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Similar causes

• Moral corruption
• Amos 26-7
• Poor oppressed
• Courts used as a tool of riches
• Sexual immorality abounded
• What about today?

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Similar causes

• Religious corruption
• Amos 84-7
• Couldnt wait for worship to end
• Would rather be at work or play
• What about today?
• If unwilling to spend time at worship
• Why feed on Gods word?

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Similar results

• Amos 813-14
• Young people fainting from thirst
• Falling and not able to rise again
• Todays spiritually starving
• Easily overcome by temptation
• Overwhelmed by trials of life
• New Christians falling away
• Young people losing interest
• Older Christians caught in sin

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Ending the Famine

• Ps 119 9-16
• Gods word preserves
• Ps 197-11
• Gods word sanctifies
• Hosea 46
• Lack of knowledge is deadly
• John 1248
• Gods word will judge

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Feeding on the Word

• 1 Peter 22
• We need daily nourishment
• If you read 1 chapter each day
• Youll finish the New Testament in a year
• If you read 3 chapters each day
• Youll finish the whole Bible in a year
• Ps 11-3
• Dont forget to think about what you read

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